Both sale and possession arrests rose 121 percent between 1981 and 1985, with New York City accounting for 87 percent of 1985 possession and sale arrests. Of the 1985 dispositions of felony possession arrests, 62 percent in New York City, 66 percent upstate, and 80 percent in suburban counties were convictions. In almost one-quarter of these offenses the conviction and arrest charge were for the same offense. Eleven percent of the convictions on drug sale arrests resulted in convictions for the same offense. Eighty percent of the dispositions for misdemeanor possession arrests were convictions. In 1985, 30 percent of those convicted for felony possession received a prison or jail sentence. Those imprisoned for felony possession or sale received a median minimum term of 2 years and a median maximum term of 4 years. Approximately half of those convicted for a possession or sale offense were incarcerated. Overall, felony drug sale offenses were prosecuted more rigorously than felony possession offenses. 15 tables.